Nominees for this category could be established or upcoming, whether a farmers’ market, food festival, monthly pop-up or similar with a little foodie magic.

“Woking Food Festival is a genuine event, three days of passionate focus on different aspects of food, held once a year, not just a regular market,” said judge Jane Garrett. “It is a celebration of food on many levels: buying, tasting, discovering, and learning and it involves food producers and professional chefs in everything from cookery demonstrations to master classes, competitions and guided tours.

There is an emphasis on local food but also a strong emphasis on community, so this festival uses food to bring the community together. It is growing fast, it has developed an identity really quickly so people are asking about it, and it is developing new ideas and spreading into different areas of the town. This is just its third year but it has really taken off. The festival is commercially sponsored and free to visitors, with just the master class donations going to charity.